Renting DVC Points...what are the downsides?

[sunsetbeachgal]

We have a trip in the planning stages for (Travel Month Removed), 2013. Normally we stay on site in the resorts and try to travel in low season, but for these trip dates I dont expect there will be any discounts so things are looking pretty pricey. We will be paying for ourselves, adult son, daughter in law and one granddaughter (8)..total 4 adults and one child) so I thought of renting DVC points.

I assume the big plus is the savings. What are the downsides (assuming the seller is honest!)? I am familiar with the on -site resorts but not the villa resorts...which is the best value for points or are all of the resorts about the same amount of points for the same time period?

thank you! If this should be posted elsewhere on DIS, please let me know!

 

[Chuck S]

The positive side is that you can save $$$ by renting.

The down side is you give up certain guarantees.

Renting is considered by most owners as a final transaction, no refunds if your plans change. There is no daily housekeeping. On a stay of 7 nights of less, you will receive fresh towels on day 4, if you stay is 8 nights of longer, you'll receive full housekeeping on day 4, and fresh towels on day 8. Additional full housekeeping or towel service is available at an additional charge.

The DVC Owner always has control of the reservation, it can be canceled by them at any time, so renting is really a matter of trust on both sides. You trust the owner to not cancel the reservation and scam you. The owner trusts you to not demolish the room or run up any unpaid room charges.

If a deal does go sour, neither Disney nor DVC will intercede on your behalf. It is a private rental agreement between two individuals.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Do you still get to take advantage of EMH? If more family members decide to join us (before deciding on which size villa to rent) and they need Magical Express service from MCO, is this still included?

 

[magicaldisney]

Yes, anyone on the reservation will be able to use ME and take advantage of EMH. As Chuck said, the owner has complete control over the reservation until you check in. Therefore, if anyone is using ME or you want to add the dining plan, this will need to be arranged by the owner and you will need to pay for the dining plan at the time that you add it.

You can NOT however, take advantage of free dining if it is offered.

 

[sweetdana]

If you are a DVC owner, I rec trying to transfer in points. This works out for our family the BEST! We have control over ressie, in case we need to cancel/change, and can waitlist if need be. IMO transferring in points is the real BEST KEPT SECRET! You pay about 9 - 11$ in most cases. (depending on resort, and how long they are good for), and really it is only a 2$ or so premium off what you would pay to buy them with a 50 yr contract. If I had to sell for some reason, I believe I would purchase a 25 point contract, just to transfer in points and have the option available.

I have rented before, but I would make sure it is a long time Diser, or Dave's service, as it is pure risk for the renter, and you might not find out it went south until you show up and there is no ME.

 

[DizBub]

The downside for me would be not having control over my reservation.

Plus, I would imagine that if you rented a 2 bedroom in late June 2013 it will cost you $3000 to $4000 depending on which resort and view. I personally would be calculating how many points I could purchase with that $$ to use every year for the next 30-50 years. But that's just me. Of course there would be member's fees involved but still a bargain.

 

[dgaston]

The other downside is that after renting 3x, I knew we had to buy DVC. YMMV

 

[mlittig]

I have rented from several DVC members on the DIS rent/trade board and have had the most marvelous experiences

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

You guys sound like DVC needs to put you on the payroll! DH and I are retired and while we love Disney, we really love cruising and travel in Europe more. I was kind of hoping the kids would buy DVC, and then let us tag along, not the other way around...LOL!!

If we decide to go ahead and look into renting points with one of the very reputable sellers, are all resorts created equal??

 

[Kidanifan08]

You guys sound like DVC needs to put you on the payroll! DH and I are retired and while we love Disney, we really love cruising and travel in Europe more. I was kind of hoping the kids would buy DVC, and then let us tag along, not the other way around...LOL!!

If we decide to go ahead and look into renting points with one of the very reputable sellers, are all resorts created equal??

If you are talking about point values, no. There is a link at the top of the page that has the DVC points charts for the various resorts. Old Key West resort is the lowest point value across all room types and seasons compared to the other resorts. Bay Lake Towers is the highest.

David's DVC rental is a reputable service as well. We are DVC owners and have never rented points from him, but there are several on these boards who have had good experiences.

 

[mikron]

Always a chance for both sides. We have rented since 2004 about 6 to 8 rservations each year. Have not had one problem and made some people very happy. We own our points and we rent our points. When a guest inquires about renting we e-mail a sample of our renters agreement for them to review. They know everything we require and if they agree we go foward.

 

[crisi]

One thing to be aware of is that DVC rooms are not like regular hotel rooms. For your party you will need a one bedroom or two studios. A one bedroom will have a full pullout in the living room and at some resorts a chair that pulls out into a twin sleeper. It will have a king bed in the master bedroom. Even if the room does not have the sleeper, you can bring an air mattress to sleep the extra person. Studios will have a queen bed and a full pullout (except at OKW where you get two full beds). There are no connecting studios.

The other thing to be aware of - DVC is a timeshare. Some rooms types will book early and adding a few nights or another room may turn out to be impossible. Cancellation policies will vary depending on whom you rent from, but in general its best to think of a DVC reservation as final - points have a "life" and if they aren't used within their life they are useless - so cancelling reservations generally leaves the owner in a tight spot - many don't refund any money for cancellations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One thing to be aware of is that DVC rooms are not like regular hotel rooms. For your party you will need a one bedroom or two studios. A one bedroom will have a full pullout in the living room and at some resorts a chair that pulls out into a twin sleeper. It will have a king bed in the master bedroom. Even if the room does not have the sleeper, you can bring an air mattress to sleep the extra person. Studios will have a queen bed and a full pullout (except at OKW where you get two full beds). There are no connecting studios.

Just a clarification - the OKW studio has two queen beds, not two full beds.

There are several one bedroom villas that DVC will allow you to sleep five people, but they will not provide the bedding for the fifth person. BCV, BWV, SSR, VWL all sleep four in the one bedroom villa - one king sized bed and one queen sized sleeper sofa. They'll let you have five, but it will be crowded and you'll have to bring your own airbed, sheets and a towel for the fifth person. You only get four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths in one bedroom villas.

You could also get a two bedroom villa and the second bedroom will have either one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa or two queen beds depending on the category. Four adults and an eight year old will probably be more comfortable in a two bedroom or two studios.

Since DVC is a timeshare, you won't get extras if you ask for them. Members pay for any extra towels, shampoo, coffee, etc. You'll get your towels replaced every four days. If you stay seven nights or less, you get your trash removed and towels replaced on day four. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day four and trash and towel service on day eight.

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

i think chuck s is right on

 

[crisi]

Just a clarification - the OKW studio has two queen beds, not two full beds.

There are several one bedroom villas that DVC will allow you to sleep five people, but they will not provide the bedding for the fifth person. BCV, BWV, SSR, VWL all sleep four in the one bedroom villa - one king sized bed and one queen sized sleeper sofa. They'll let you have five, but it will be crowded and you'll have to bring your own airbed, sheets and a towel for the fifth person. You only get four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths in one bedroom villas.

You could also get a two bedroom villa and the second bedroom will have either one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa or two queen beds depending on the category. Four adults and an eight year old will probably be more comfortable in a two bedroom or two studios.

Since DVC is a timeshare, you won't get extras if you ask for them. Members pay for any extra towels, shampoo, coffee, etc. You'll get your towels replaced every four days. If you stay seven nights or less, you get your trash removed and towels replaced on day four. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day four and trash and towel service on day eight.

However, at the point you are getting a two bedroom villa, there are cheaper options.

(Thanks for the correction on the beds, I thought queen and typed full).

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

If you rent points can you still get the dining plan if it is free?

 

[chalee94]

If you rent points can you still get the dining plan if it is free?

a points reservation is a discounted reservation, so no free dining. not ever.

you may be able to add the DDP for a cost when renting a points reservation (requires payment upfront if the DVC owner is willing to add the DDP), but disney has no incentive to offer discounted dining on top of the discounted room.

 

[chipdale74]

I have rented to people in the past and what I did was draw up an informal contract. It's true you don't know who you are dealing with and whether or not they are honest, it's taking a chance.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you rent points can you still get the dining plan if it is free?

I am afraid NOT. The free dinning is given to people who purchase a vacation package from Disney and not available to folks who rent points from a DVC member.